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World Religions
Alexis Weiss, Loyola Marymount University, Chair

MEMBERS PRESENT

• Alexis Weiss, Loyola Marymount University (Chair)
• Patrick Milas, New Brunswick Theological Seminary
• Karla Grafton, Hartford International University
• W. Field, William Booth College, UK
• Ellen Frost, Bridwell Library, Perkins School of Theology

ABSENTEE MEMBERS

• Desirae Zingarelli-Sweet, Colgate Rochester Crozer Divinity 
School (Co-Chair)

• Megan Welsh, University of Colorado Boulder
• Yasmine Abou-El-Kheir, Chicago Theological Seminary
• Stephen Sweeney, St. John Vianney Seminary
• Daniel Baek, Vancouver School of Theology
• Judy Clarence, Global Ministries University
• Beth Kumar, Graduate Theological Union

AGENDA

1. Introductions 

2. Last year in review

3. Nominations of Open Positions

4. Plans for next year and rollover of ideas from before

YEAR IN REVIEW

• While we were able to convene and record our 
first potential podcast for WRIG, we had unfortu-
nate sound quality issues, which made rendering 
a viable recording impossible. We might consider 



Interest Group Reports  23

trying this format again in the future.

• With many thanks to Jamie Lin for organizing the 
event, WRIG sponsored two separate viewing ses-
sions and discussions of the documentary Mission: 
Joy, a conversation between Archbishop Desmond 
Tutu and His Holiness the Dalai Lama. These hap-
pened in December of 2021 and February of 2022.

• WRIG sponsored the worship service: Practicing 
the Four Immeasurable Qualities, presented by 
Alexis Weiss at the 2022 Annual Conference in 
Baltimore.

OTHER

Nominations for Open Positions

• Alexis is stepping down as chair and will be re-
placed by Desirae Zingarelli-Sweet.

• We are in need of volunteers for the position of 
Vice Chair and of Secretary (which remained 
empty this past year).

• Since the meeting was small, a call for these posi-
tions will go out to the listserv in the coming weeks.

• Alexis Weiss offered to take the role of Secretary in 
the event that no other volunteers came forward.

Possible Plans for the Coming Year

• Briefly discussed hosting a blog; this was on last 
year’s list of items. Since the number attending the 
business meeting was small, this may be consid-
ered later.

• Discussed hosting an excursion next year in Dallas-
Ft. Worth area to the Dallas Holocaust and Human 
Rights Museum https://www.dhhrm.org/ 

• Also discussed combining this with an excursion 
to see Bridwell Library’s special collections.  Ellen 
mentioned that Bridwell has a Chinese Torah scroll 
and other items that may be of interest to those 
interested in World Religions.

https://www.dhhrm.org/

